Learning & Development Manager

South West Larder: Togetherness, Nurture, Pride, Planet

Full Time: 39 hours a week

Salary range: £50k + benefits

Location: Compass House

Interview date: Thursday 24th September 2026

Want to work for a company where Togetherness, Nurture, Pride and Planet are at the heart of everything they do? Then look no further, Somerset Larder produces fresh food and meals to go using locally sourced ingredients from all over the west country. Our philosophy is to nourish the community with amazing produce, to employ local people and to train apprentices for future careers in the catering and hospitality sector.

At Somerset Larder, our Values have been set by our staff. Our Values exist for the good of our working lives and company performance. Our Values are:

• Togetherness - “Be a tractor not a trailer.”
• Nurture - “You grow, I grow, we grow.”
• Pride - “We can and we will”
• Planet - “We’re part of a bigger picture”

We're looking for an experienced Learning & Development Manager to join our People & Talent team.  If you're a talented trainer, tutor or teacher with hospitality or catering experience and a passion for helping people succeed, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

The Role

You'll design, deliver and evaluate engaging learning programmes that develop skills, knowledge and confidence across the business on a wide range of subjects and to a wide range of team members and leaders. 

Key responsibilities include:

• Designing and delivering creative training programmes.
• Facilitating workshops, coaching sessions and workplace learning.
• Assessing knowledge, understanding and competency.
• Building skills, confidence and leadership capability across the business through continuous learning and development.
• Supporting apprentices to stay on track and achieve their qualifications.
• Liaising with college tutors and training providers.
• Delivering engaging and inspiring induction programmes.
• Sourcing and managing digital learning resources and training materials.
• Promoting best practice in Food Safety, Health & Safety and Inclusion, and supporting our commitment to a Zero Harm culture.

What We're Looking For

About You

Our ideal candidate will bring:

• Experience as a Trainer, Tutor, Teacher or Learning & Development professional.
• Hospitality or catering sector experience.
• A recognised training, teaching or learning qualification.
• Experience supporting apprentices and learners.
• Excellent facilitation, coaching and communication skills.
• Strong Health & Safety and Food Safety knowledge.
• Confidence using Microsoft 365 and learning technologies.
• The ability to engage, motivate and inspire people at all levels.

• Be passionate about developing our people and building a positive and inclusive culture.
• Be creative and engaging.
• Are organised and self-motivated.
• Be a strong relationship builder.
• Be committed to continuous personal and professional development.

The Learning & Development Manager is responsible for designing, delivering and evaluating engaging learning and development initiatives that build the skills, knowledge and performance of team members across the business. Through innovative training, coaching and assessment activities, the postholder will support colleagues to learn effectively, develop professionally and apply learning confidently in the workplace.

The role is also responsible for leading the apprenticeship programme and induction experience. Working closely with training providers, the postholder will delivering creative and inspiring inductions that bring the organisation's values, standards and culture to life for new team members and support apprentices to achieve successful qualification outcomes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Learning & Development

• Research, design, develop and continuously improve learning and development programmes aligned to organisational objectives.
• Create engaging training materials, e-learning resources, presentations, guides, workbooks and assessment tools.
• Deliver high-quality training sessions through a range of methods including classroom, virtual, practical demonstrations and workplace coaching.
• Facilitate learning activities that encourage participation, collaboration and knowledge retention.
• Adapt learning approaches to suit differing learning styles, levels of experience and operational requirements.
• Evaluate training effectiveness through feedback, observations, assessments and performance outcomes.
• Maintain accurate learning records and provide regular reports on training activity and outcomes.

Knowledge Checking and Competency Assessment

• Design and deliver assessments to measure learning, competence and understanding.
• Conduct observations, quizzes, practical assessments and knowledge checks to ensure learning has been embedded.
• Identify skills gaps and implement development plans to support improvement.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to individuals and teams to support continuous learning.

Apprenticeship Support

• Act as the primary organisational contact for apprentices and training providers.
• Build effective relationships with college tutors, apprenticeship coaches and awarding bodies.
• Monitor apprentice progress, attendance, off-the-job learning and qualification milestones.
• Support apprentices to remain focused on programme requirements and successfully achieve their qualifications.
• Assist managers in providing meaningful workplace learning opportunities aligned to apprenticeship standards.
• Encourage and support apprentices with revision, portfolio-building and assessment preparation.

Induction and Onboarding

• Design and deliver engaging induction programmes for new team members.
• Present organisational values, culture, customer service standards, health and safety requirements and role expectations in a creative and inspiring way.
• Ensure induction programmes equip new employees with the knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm required to succeed.

Health, Safety and Compliance

• Promote a strong health, safety and wellbeing culture throughout the organisation.
• Ensure all training content complies with relevant legislation, organisational policies and industry standards.
• Deliver mandatory compliance training including health and safety topics as required.
• Support the organisation's commitment to achieving and maintaining a "Zero Harm" culture.
• Ensure training records are accurate and auditable.

Technology and Innovation

• Utilise learning technologies and digital platforms (e.g. Flow LMS) to enhance engagement and accessibility.
• Explore new learning methods, technologies and industry best practice to drive innovation in training delivery.
• Source and manage digital learning tools and platforms.

Data

• Analyse, interpret and present data to identify trends, measure performance and support informed decision-making.
• Produce and maintain compliance reports, KPI dashboards and management information, delivering accurate monthly, quarterly and annual reporting.
• Use data and insights to support organisational change initiatives and process improvement activities to monitor and continuously improve.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong relationships with operational managers to understand learning requirements.
• Work collaboratively with People & Talent colleagues to support organisational development objectives.
• Partner with external training providers, colleges and other stakeholders to maximise learning opportunities.
• Act as a positive ambassador for learning and development across the organisation.

Essential Qualifications

• Recognised teaching, training or learning and development qualification (e.g. PTLLS/DTLLS, Cert Ed, PGCE or CIPD Learning & Development or equivalent).
• Relevant Health & Safety qualification (e.g. IOSH) or willingness to work towards one.
• Food safety qualification (or willingness to achieve)

Essential Experience

• Significant experience as a Trainer, Tutor, Teacher, Learning & Development Professional or similar role.
• Previous hospitality, catering or food service industry experience with a strong practical understanding of sector operations.
• Experience of designing and delivering engaging training programmes in operational environments.
• Experience of assessing knowledge, competence and learning outcomes.
• Experience supporting apprentices or learners through structured qualifications and development programmes.
• Experience liaising with colleges, training providers, awarding organisations or apprenticeship partners.
• Experience of delivering induction and onboarding programmes.

Essential Knowledge

• Strong understanding of adult learning principles and effective training methodologies.
• Good knowledge of hospitality and catering operations, standards and best practice.
• Excellent understanding of workplace Health & Safety requirements.
• Knowledge of apprenticeship frameworks, standards and learner support requirements.
• Understanding of and consistent application of equality, diversity and inclusion principles in learning environments.

Essential Skills and Competencies

• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Ability to engage, motivate and inspire learners at all levels.
• Strong coaching and mentoring capability.
• Highly organised with excellent planning and time-management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Technology savvy with the ability to use learning management systems, Microsoft 365 applications and digital learning tools effectively.
• Ability to create innovative and engaging learning materials.
• Strong assessment and evaluation skills.
• Highly collaborative with the ability to build positive relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to analyse information and identify training needs.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and professional development.
• Passion for helping others learn, develop and succeed.

Personal Qualities

• Enthusiastic and energetic with a genuine passion for learning and development.
• Creative and innovative in approach.
• Positive role model who promotes company values and behaviours.
• Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced environment.
• Approachable, supportive and people-focused.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• An inclusive approach and tailoring learning activities to meet learner needs.
• Safety-conscious with a commitment to supporting a "Zero Harm" culture.

Desirable

• CIPD membership or qualification.
• Assessor and/or Internal Quality Assurance qualification.
• Experience working with e-learning packages and digital learning resources.
• Experience working within large-scale hospitality, catering, leisure or service-sector organisations.
• Champion a culture of continuous learning, development and Zero Harm across the organisation.

Employee Benefits Menu

At Somerset Larder, we believe our people are the secret ingredient to our success. Here’s a flavourful look at the benefits we’ve cooked up for our amazing team:

Generous Time Off

Savour a well-balanced blend of work and personal time with our generous annual leave allowance (33 days including bank holidays)

Pension Contributions with Extra Spice

Prepare for your future with a pension plan that goes beyond the basics – 5% from you, matched with a hearty 5% from us

Life Assurance

Our life assurance plan is here to provide peace of mind, so you can focus on serving up excellence

Cycle Scheme

Get a healthy and eco-friendly start to each day with our cycle scheme – perfect for working up an appetite!

Comprehensive Family Leave Benefits

When life serves up big changes, we’re here to support you with a menu of family leave benefits designed so you can make memories as you care for your family.

Free Food and Drink on Shift

Enjoy a daily free meal/drink so you can fuel up and stay energised.

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)/Mental Health First Aiders

Tap into our 24/7, all-year round helpline and portal Wisdom, loaded with resources on health, finances, legal advice and lifestyle tips – a full menu of support options  

Christmas Shutdown

Relax during the festive period whilst the operation is closed between Christmas and New Year – a rarity for the Hospitality industry (option to volunteer for skeleton staffing)

Learning, Development and Apprenticeship Opportunities

Stir up new skills with a range of development and apprenticeship opportunities to help you grow your career and cook up success in the culinary world.   

Access to Occupational Health

As a perk of being part of the HPC project, you will have access to Health Partners, the UK’s leading provider of workplace health services

Refer a Friend Scheme

Use our employee referral programme and benefit financially by adding people from your professional network to our workforce.

Monthly Recognition: A Toast to you

Each month, we raise a glass to our star team members who go above and beyond, as nominated by their colleagues

Long Service Awards

Celebrate the milestones! Receive our heartfelt gratitude and special recognition at your 5- and 10-year anniversaries

Annual Team Awards

Join us for our annual awards event as we honour the outstanding contributions and achievements of our team. It’s our way of saying cheers to you!

This benefits menu is our recipe for a rewarding and fulfilling career, where you can develop your talents and delight in the journey ahead.

Pre-Employment Screening

Successful applicants will be required to provide a three-year employment history and five-year address history to work on Hinkley Point C.

They must be able to provide in date photographic ID and their right to work in the UK so that security clearance can be obtained as these roles are based on a nuclear regulated site.